Fear of bloat costs cattle producers more money than bloat itself, according to Garry Lacefield, a forage specialist at the University of Kentucky, because it robs them of a chance to use their pastures more efficiently.
When he first tried grazing his herd on alfalfa 25 years ago, the neighbours couldn’t believe it.
“People would call and tell me that my cattle had gotten into my alfalfa field. I assured them that I had them in there on purpose,” he said.
Once, on a Sunday morning, thinking they were doing him a favour, a handful of churchgoers stopped their car and chased the cattle out of the alfalfa.
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Struggling against the commonly held belief that cattle would bloat from eating green alfalfa, Lacefield continued his grazing experiment. Then one day, two of his cows were found dead in the field within a metre of each other.
“The news spread like wildfire across the community. They said, ‘I knew. Dr Lacefield was going to kill those cattle, and now he has done it’. “
A veterinarian examined the animals and found that they had been struck by lightning.
“Folks, that was 25 years ago. Even today, there are still people who believe that those cattle died of bloat.”
Lacefield, who gave a presentation on the benefits of grazing alfalfa at the 2006 Manitoba Grazing School on Nov. 29 in Brandon, said there are four main reasons that producers give when asked why they have not tried it.
They cite the fear of bloat, the additional cost of fencing for a rotational grazing program, the risk of cattle shortening stand life by trampling the plants, and the belief that alfalfa, as a preferred dry forage, is “too good to waste.”
Grazing alfalfa can offer significant advantages in live weight gains, anywhere from 500-800 pounds per acre, he said, with average daily gains of more than two lb. per day. In midsummer or in drought conditions, the deep root system of the plant can maintain good pasture while cool-season grasses are dormant.
Typically, losses to bloat when grazing alfalfa are less than one percent. Simple precautions can prevent most losses, such as providing grass hay during the first week on alfalfa, feeding bloat-preventing compounds such as Rumensin, and keeping cattle off alfalfa for at least three days after a killing frost.
“Here’s the biggie: Do not turn hungry cattle out on alfalfa, especially when it is wet with dew,” he said.
Fencing requirements can be kept to a minimum. A single electric fence wire that can be easily moved, is usually enough to keep the cattle where they need to be.
“It’s more of psychological barrier. I always make sure that every animal in my herd, early in their life, has a bad experience with that hot wire.”
As for trampling, cattle should be kept on a “sacrifice paddock” when wet and muddy conditions prevail. Also, never graze a stand of alfalfa for more than seven days, and always use a grazing tolerant variety.
“I make this my policy in all my grazing: never abuse the same paddock two consecutive times.”
By grazing alfalfa instead of baling it, he eliminates the machinery cost, which can amount to 40 percent of the total cost of putting up hay. Also, grazing can help rejuvenate a weakened stand by reducing competition from grass and weeds, often adding an extra year of life to it.
Studies have shown that while hay yields are sub-optimal in stands of less than three plants per sq. foot, good beef gains can be achieved on alfalfa stands with only one plant per sq. foot, he said.
